Renewable energy

Renewable energy

The City of Sydney has set a target to reduce greenhouse gas emissions across the entire local area to 70% below 2006 levels by 2030. This includes a target of 30% of electricity from renewable sources.

The current cost of electricity

Sydney is facing substantial requirements for new and upgraded energy infrastructure to improve its aging electricity and gas networks.

Energy distributors and retailers in NSW have been given the right to increase energy prices to recoup the investment required to deliver an operable, secure and modern energy system.

The recent increases in electricity costs to households and businesses are mostly due to upgrades to network infrastructure required to meet growing peak demand.

In the local area, this peak typically occurs between 10am and 4pm when many building integrated solar energy technologies will be operating at, or near, capacity.

Any such decentralised energy generation able to reduce peak demand may delay infrastructure upgrades and potentially reduce further escalation of network charges and hence electricity bills for the entire community.

The plan for renewable energy

A renewable energy master plan has been developed to focus on technologies that deliver the greatest outcome for the City for the lowest cost. You can download the plan below.

A major part of helping the City meet its renewable energy targets is installing solar panels on around 30 sites including Sydney Park Pavilion, Paddington and Glebe Town Hall, as well as a range of libraries, community centres, depots and other public facilities.

This is a significant solar panel program and is estimated to deliver 1.7 gigawatts per year, or 5.3% of current electricity demand, when fully installed in 2016.

The City has already installed solar hot water and/or photovoltaic systems on 18 sites where 240 panels create a peak capacity of 48 kilowatts.

The blueprint for our 100% renewable energy city

The renewable energy master plan outlines how 100% of the City’s electricity, heating and cooling can come from renewable energy sources, such as solar, wind and energy from waste, by 2030.

Based on worldwide renewable energy best practice, the master plan focuses on the mix of renewable energy resources and most effective technologies. The most exciting part of the City using renewable energy is that as the cost of coal-fired electricity rises, the cost of renewable energy is falling as new technology becomes available and countries around the world embrace decentralised energy networks. The renewable energy master plan was previously on public exhibition.